Arts, Design & Architecture

Equity, diversity & inclusion

At UNSW Arts, Design & Architecture, we’re committed to fostering a safe, supportive and equitable environment for all staff, students and the wider community regardless of gender, cultural background, disability, sexual orientation or identity.

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Art and design students discussing work inside the Red Center build enviroment study space.
EDI at ADA

ADA takes a leading role in ensuring that as a faculty we are not only committed to providing a safe, inclusive and equitable environment for all staff and students, but that we also carry out this commitment in ways that encourage collaboration and innovation, embrace good practice, and celebrate our diverse ways of working.

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EDI at UNSW

Our UNSW EDI team works in partnership with students and staff across the university to evolve a culture that embraces equity and supports a diverse and inclusive community through strategic policies, initiatives, training programs and events.

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Get in touch with EDI at ADA

Our UNSW Arts, Design & Architecture EDI Committee facilitates, supports and creates initiatives, programs, guidelines and activities to empower everyone in the faculty to feel safe, included and respected. We collaborate with other UNSW EDI groups to ensure everyone has equitable opportunities to succeed, regardless of background, to show leadership and benefit from others' initiatives and best practices.

For EDI-related support or queries, please liaise with Emma Kirby (Associate Dean Societal Impact, Equity and Engagement, and Chair, EDI Committee): emma.kirby@unsw.edu.au

The ADA SDG Working Group is to develop, coordinate, monitor, evaluate, and communicate ADA’s engagement with the SDGs, across research, education and student experience, governance and operations and external leadership and engagement Pillars. The Working Group plays a key role in developing and driving the SDG agenda for ADA in line with the University Strategy and the ADA 2051 Strategy.

For ADA SDG-related queries, please liaise with Philip Oldfield (Chair, ADA SDG Working Group): p.oldfield@unsw.edu.au

Arts, Design & Architecture students seeking academic support should contact the Nucleus Student Hub. Students requiring equitable learning plans or educational adjustments should contact the Equitable Learning Services.

Explore useful student resources and support including common forms, key contacts, information about academic advising and a range of support services that will help you get the most out of your university experience.

Our ADA diversity portfolios

LGBTIQA+ Co-Champions
Aves Parsemain: a.parsemain@unsw.edu.au
Timothy Heffernan: t.heffernan@unsw.edu.au

The LGBTIQA+ Working Group is focused on fostering an inclusive environment for the LGBTIQA+ community within the faculty. Through advocacy, education, and collaboration, we work to ensure diverse sexualities, gender identities, and expressions are recognised and valued in academic and campus life.

Gender Equity Co-Champions
Mailing Suchting: m.suchting@unsw.edu.au
Lizzie Muller: lizzie.muller@unsw.edu.au

The Gender Equity working group celebrates gender diversity and addresses gendered disadvantage for staff and students within the faculty. We actively interface between the faculty and university policies and initiatives, sharing good practice and building a strengths-based culture where people of all gender identities are valued and supported.  

Disability and Mental Health Co-Champions
Karen Kriss: k.kriss@unsw.edu.au
Penny Griffin: penny.griffin@unsw.edu.au

The Disability and Mental Health working group is committed to creating a supportive environment for those with disabilities, neurodivergent and/or mental health challenges within the faculty. Our initiatives include advocating for systemic change, supporting staff and students, and building community.

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Indigenous Champion
Anissa Jones: anissa.jones@unsw.edu.au

Learn more

Cultural & Linguistic Diversity Co-Champions
Ayshe Eli: a.eli@unsw.edu.au
Moe Mojtahedi: m.mojtahedi@unsw.edu.au

The Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) working group focuses on promoting cultural and linguistic diversity within our incredibly diverse faculty, striving to create a culturally inclusive environment where students and staff can freely express their identities, opinions, and perspectives.

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Wellbeing (including Parents & Families) Co-Champions
Tamra Flewell-Smith: t.flewell-smith@unsw.edu.au
Deborah Barros Leal Farias: deborahblf@unsw.edu.au

The Wellbeing (including Parents & Families) Working Group is passionate about ensuring a safe and inclusive culture of understanding and empathy. Actively promoting wellbeing in its many facets of our diverse faculty, we foster a supportive culture that elevates the voices of our community through their lived experiences. We are committed to helping destigmatise mental health, invisible illness, chronic health conditions, and the complex nuances of parenting and family responsibilities, to further support wellbeing at UNSW. 

  • Panel Pledge: I stand for gender diversity at every forum

    As part of their commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion, staff are encouraged to reflect on and critically engage with organisers of public and professional forums where there’s a lack of diversity in speakers, content or people with lived experiences of the forum themes. One practical way of doing this is by ensuring all forums you’re involved in at the university, and more broadly, take diversity into account. Within this context, UNSW Arts, Design & Architecture encourages all staff to commit to the Panel Pledge. 

    Our Panel Pledge:
    • I commit to ensuring all forums I am professionally engaged in take gender equity into consideration.
    • When speaking at an event, I will request confirmation of who the other panellists/speakers/participants are, and how gender balance will be achieved. 
    • I will insist, as a condition of acceptance, that I expect women to participate in a meaningful way.
    • I reserve the right to withdraw from an event, should gender equity not be achieved. 
    • I will highlight gender imbalances where I see them and provide event organisers with the names of relevant women leaders in my field.

    If you’d like to pledge your support, email ADASIEE@unsw.edu.au
  • Pledges

    These members of staff have made the Panel Pledge: 

    • Claire Annesley, Dean, Arts, Design & Architecture 
    • Michael Balfour, Head of School, School of Arts & Media 
    • Jan Breckenridge, Head of School, School of Social Sciences 
    • David Cami, Faculty Executive Director  
    • Helen Caple, School of Arts & Media
    • Chris Davison, School of Education
    • Paul Evans, School of Education
    • Sandy Evans, School of Arts & Media
    • Dorottya Fabian, School of Arts & Media 
    • Karen Fisher, Social Policy Research Centre
    • Helen Groth, School of Arts & Media
    • Ashleigh Hamilton, School of Social Sciences
    • Trish Hill, Social Policy Research Centre
    • Mira Kim, School of Humanities & Languages
    • Limin Mao, Centre for Social Research in Health
    • Tema Milstein, School of Humanities & Languages
    • Christy Newman, Deputy Dean, Research 
    • Timothy O'Leary, School of Humanities & Languages
    • Jennifer Perkins, Education Excellence Manager
    • Louise Ravelli, School of Arts & Media   
    • Catherine Rowe, HR Engagement Lead
    • Michael Richardson, School of Arts & Media   
    • Susanne Schmeidl, School of Social Sciences
    • Sue Starfield, School of Education   
    • Carla Treloar, Centre for Social Research in Health
    • kylie valentine, Director, Social Policy Research Centre and the Centre for Social Research in Health
    • Jon von Kowallis, School of Humanities & Languages 
    • Caroline Wake, School of Arts & Media   
    • Ping Wang, School of Humanities & Languages